The Waco Six-Shooters, a senior basketball team based in Waco, Texas, concluded the 2026 Granny Basketball National Tournament in Ankeny, Iowa, with a fifth‑place finish that highlighted their growing reputation on the national stage.
Tournament Highlights
The event gathered 32 teams and more than 350 players from the United States and Canada, featuring a competitive championship bracket that was ultimately captured by the Cedar Rapids Sizzlers.
Competing in the consolation bracket, the Six‑Shooters posted a 3‑3 record, securing victories over the ICT AeroBelles and later the Kansas Sunflowers while dropping games to the Center Point Model T’s, Late Bloomers and other opponents.
Guided by coach Linda Gilliam, a former Baylor University standout who played basketball from 1973 to 1975 and volleyball in 1974‑75, the roster blends decades of experience with a vibrant mix of talent, comprising twelve athletes aged 53 to 73.
Granny Basketball, founded in 2005, provides a competitive yet gentler version of the sport for women aged 50 and older, and the league now includes 57 teams across eleven U.S. states plus a Canadian franchise.
The team’s schedule continues with participation in the Senior Games in Emporia, Kansas, on September 26‑27, and a return to the national tournament next year in Kansas City, Missouri.
Beyond the court, the Six‑Shooters recently hosted a charity game that raised $40,000 for Friends for Life, underscoring their dedication to community service and philanthropy.